James 1:9-18
James 1:12
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptations. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
By: Bev Pacas
Camp Director
James 1:9-18
(9) Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.
(10) And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
(11) The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
(12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
(13) And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
(14) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
(15) These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
(16) So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
(17)Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
(18)He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Poverty, Wealth and God’s Good Gifts
James is writing this letter to the twelve tribes who were the early Christians and mostly poor. The words in this passage are for both the poor and the wealthy. “Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God will honor them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them.”
James 1: 9-10. The poor can find their worth in their spiritual wealth. For the rich, earthly wealth is temporary and will fade away. James message like others in the Bible flips our world value system upside down.
James goes on to share that “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptations. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him,” James 1:12. Trials and tribulation are not sent from God as a test or a punishment for any of us. Our own desires, which can lead to sin, are what causes us to be temped to move away from God. We like to play the blame game instead of looking at our own sinful nature and actions.
“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, become his prized possession,” James 1:16-18. God is good all the time! His word gives us the wisdom we need to live a Godly life.
Whether you consider yourself wealth or poor, God is there for you. Know that he chose you. Know that he sent his only son, Jesus, to take all your sins to the cross and he defeated death three days later for you when he rose from the dead. When our worldly desires are temping us, let us search God’s word for wisdom and turn to God in prayer for that peace that passes all understanding.
By: Bev Pacas
Camp Director